Labor Day Weekend 2020 | 勞動節長週末

Shelter in place seems like it’s coming to an end. We can now dine out where outdoor seating is available, and we can do non-essential shopping. We can even travel by commercial ferry or airplane to nearby islands. This has gotta be the most awesome birthday gift for me. This past long weekend we were expecting the “storm of the decade”, so we made sure we went snorkeling before the typhoon hits. But the typhoon didn’t hit us straight on, and we even got to eat hot pot and watch Mulan. 

自主隔離終於到一段落，能在餐廳室外座位用餐，也能到商場逛街，還能坐飛機和船到沖繩離島。我的天啊，這根本是生日前最好的禮物！這長週末，有堪稱最強颱風來沖繩，我們把握能到海邊玩的時間去浮潛，但颱風路線走歪沒什麼太大影響。週日還吃火鍋看花木蘭。

Okuma Resort

Have you ever gotten dizzy from SUP and kayak? Have you ever seen anyone capsize while riding jet ski? Even though we only stayed here one night, this weekend was very extreme and entertaining. Our staycation at Okuma started with meeting up with our pastor’s family, who happened to be at northern Okinawa too, for dinner. UN and I went looking for stars at night, something we don’t get to see very often. I wish I had brought my tripod. 

你有聽過玩SUP和獨木舟玩到暈船過嗎？你有親眼看到水上摩托車翻船嗎？雖然只待一晚，但這週末也太刺激太好玩了！開啟完美Okuma Staycation，我們先是和剛好也在沖繩北邊的牧師一家人一起吃晚餐！晚上和UN在海邊追星，整片星星是我們在住家附近看不到的畫面，真希望那時有帶腳架！

On the second day, sea conditions improved a lot. We signed up for a couple aquatic activities. I finally got to do SUP! Still the waves after typhoon was a bit choppy, we got a little bit seasick from kayaking and SUP. 

第二天海況改善許多，我們排滿水上活動，我也終於能玩到SUP！但由於颱風過後，海況還不太穩定，我們划著SUP和獨木舟到暈船，一度需要跳下水裡清醒一下。

Our favorite and most impressionable activity has got to be jet ski. What an adrenaline rush. Another couple who started the same time as us flipped and capsized as they were attempting a sharp turn. That didn’t deter our racing spirit. We pedaled to the metal. Jet ski is a must try activity when you are at Okuma. Before leaving Okuma, we made reservation for the one room there that is so hard to make reservation for. Most ppl say you have to book it 6 months in advance. It’s the Ai Cottage, and it has its own private beach!

整個行程我們印象最深（也是最愛）是玩水上摩托車，超刺激超瘋狂。和我們同時間出發的另一對情侶，在我們還在研究如何飆車時竟然翻車。但完全不影響我們想當飆仔的心情，我們開始狂飆狂撞海浪，來Okuma一定又玩水上摩托車！離開Okuma前，我們訂到最難訂的房間，就是傳說需要六個月前訂好的AI Cottage，聽說有私人海灘！

Kouri Shrimp

Time flies when you are having fun! After leaving Okuma, we stopped by a tourist favorite Kouri Shrimp over rice. They only do takeouts right now. You must wash your hands and wear your mask when ordering. We ate the Kouri Shrimp over rice by the beach and watched the sun set to end our long weekend. 

美好的時光總是過得特別快，下午離開Okuma後我們到觀光客必吃、疫情之前總是大排長龍的超有名蝦仁飯。目前只提供外帶，入店時必須戴口罩和擦乾洗手。我們帶著蝦仁飯到海邊欣賞黃昏，結束好玩的長週末。

Thanks to COVID-19 we are able to truly enjoy Okinawa. But I still wish COVID-19 would go away soon! 

現在能好好認識沖繩這美麗的小島得感謝COVID-19，但COVID-19可以快點離開嗎？感謝感謝！

Shelter In Place Week 17- Typhoon Maysak | 第17周自主隔離

This morning Okinawa entered TCCOR-1, which means that we have officially entered typhoon season. I was certain Typhoon Maysak would change its course or slow down, but even my optimism succumbed to the strong wind and heavy rain that we now face. I filled our bathtub with water, charged all of our devices and portable battery. On our way home, we saw most stores boarded up their windows and placed sandbags in front of their doors. The strong wind is so strong that I can’t open my own door and I almost can’t walk straight. Thank God UN is a realist (and has more common sense), made sure we stuffed our fridge and washed all of our clothes, so that even if we lose power and water, we will have food to eat and clean clothes to wear.

今早沖繩進入TCCOR-1，就是我們必須準備防颱措施。連我這種鐵齒到極致，覺得颱風九號一定會換方向或風力減弱也開始在家中備水以防萬一。尤其是下午回家時，幾乎所有店家放上木板和沙袋，風大到有幾度我無法向前行走時，我才願意接受颱風真的要來了。幸好UN不像我這麼天兵，已經把家中糧食囤放好，家中全部清理一次，以備斷水斷電還有食物能吃和乾淨衣服穿。

Sandbox Burger

Yes, my favorite kind of food, the kind that tops your calorie chart! I fell in love with Sandbox burger at first try. I’ve tried many burger restaurants in Okinawa, but this one is definitely top 3. I love their Umami Burger and Lamb Burger. You must also try their hand-cut fries that are cooked in lard. We can’t dine-in still, so we ordered curb-side pick up and enjoyed the burgers at the seawall. The sunset after rain is so beautiful! 

是的，我就是愛這種能讓體脂肪爆表的食物！自從幾位朋友帶我來Sandbox Burger後，我就深深愛上了！吃遍沖繩漢堡店，這家絕對在我心裡排名前三。我最愛他們的Umami Burger和Lamb Burger，而且一定要加點豬油炸出來的手切薯條，香脆薯條粗細恰好，完全合我胃口。不能內用的我們，拿著外帶到海邊使用，看著雨後日落特別美。

Torri Beach

I’ve wanted to do Stand Up Paddleboard for months now! But every time I planned a trip to the beach for SUP, either the sea conditions was not good or we had a typhoon coming. It rained for days last week, but we had great weather this weekend, the calm before the storm. But due to being in TCCOR-2 at the time, no rentals were happening, so I couldn’t do SUP again. Even then, we had a lot fun with our friends at the beach. UN and I got torched under the sun! Stay tuned to my SUP experience! Oh and btw, the onion rings my friend made was yummy!

喊了好幾個月，想玩SUP，還是玩不到！每次計畫週末到海邊玩SUP，總被天氣或海況不佳而延期。連日暴雨，這週末天氣卻好到完全感覺不到颱風即將登陸，但又因颱風關係而無法玩SUP，即使這樣，我們一群朋友在海邊還是玩得超開心，我和UN還大曬傷呢！敬請期待我到底什麼時候才能玩SUP！喔還有，我朋友做的洋蔥圈超好吃！

Lulu

This is so unreal! Spent the entire weekend outdoors at the beach, but now can only stare outside from inside my apartment. Feeling sleepy. My friends who live in Okinawa, please stay safe and dry! I will see you guys next week!

實在是太不真實了！整個週末天氣好到在海邊度過，現在則是待在家裡望著窗外，睡意漸漸來襲。住在沖繩的朋友們小心安全，我們下週見囉！

Shelter In Place Week 15+16- TokyoBike | 第15+16周自主隔離

Last Friday during HITT class, we heard rumors of loosening SIP restrictions, but weren’t given any details. But even just the thoughts of a little bit more freedom excited me. That day at noon, updated restrictions came out, and we can get take-out and drive throughs at off-base restaurants again. Finally our kitchen can get a day of rest. Let’s share what happened in the last couple of weeks!

上週五上HITT時，有小道消息說疫情限制會放寬，雖然不清楚放寬內容，但還是默默的開心。自主隔離後，小小自由總讓我們開心到不行。那天中午發布限制內容，我們終於能買外賣，天啊終於能讓廚房休息一下。來分享這兩個禮拜發生的事吧！

TokyoBike

I’ve set my eyes on this brand of bicycles since I was living on the East Coast. I didn’t purchase it then because I didn’t think it was safe to ride a bike in the city jungle of New York City. But I have stopped by the New York store and admired the beauty of TokyoBike many times. We even continued to talk about it when we lived in Virginia. Since moving to Okinawa, and after James got his bike, I’ve started itching for my own bike again. We found Taira Bike Shop, an authorized TokyoBike retailer here in Okinawa. UN immediately ordered one for me. I had a hard time picking which color to get. I was mesmerized by blue jade, saffron, and blue grey, but eventually ivory won out! 

住東岸時已經看中這牌子，當時心裡沒準備好在人車爆炸的紐約騎腳踏車而沒買。但偶爾經過TokyoBike在紐約的店時，還是會停下來看幾眼。後來搬到維吉尼亞，我們時不時還是會提起這腳踏車。搬來沖繩後，UN買了腳踏車後，讓我蠢蠢欲動。找到Taira Bike Shop有代理TokyoBike，UN立刻幫我訂一台。腳踏車顏色是讓我最無法定下來的，喜歡淡綠，也愛灰藍色，有時又被黃色吸引到，最後象牙白勝出！

Mermaid Grotto

I nearly lost my GoPro in the ocean that day! During our second dive, I didn’t notice the screw holding the GoPro to the holster had come loose. Thankful that my friend M found it! If you follow me on Instagram, you probably have seen the close up video of the sea turtle that we saw that day! So cute!

那天我的GoPro差點就在大海裡不見了！第二潛時，沒發現相機與手環連接處的螺絲鬆開，好險朋友M發現（感謝感謝）！有追蹤我的IG的人一定知道我們超近距離看到海龜，怕烏龜的我都覺得好可愛！

Since getting a bike, we have been riding around our neighborhood after dinner to explore. We came across a new coffee shop and a few new restaurants opening in American Village in September. We aren’t allowed to patronize there under current restrictions, but it still feels nice to ride our bikes there.

自從我們有腳踏車後，我們常在晚餐飯後出去騎腳踏車發掘新地區。美國村九月一號有新的咖啡店和餐廳開幕，雖然目前我們去不了，但在附近騎腳踏車還是很舒服。